[Primary hyperparathyroidism as differential diagnosis of severe skeletal destructions (author's transl)]

The case of a 45-year old female patient with primary hyperparathyroidism is described to show that this disease can occur under the principal sign of a destruction of the cervical vertebral column. The roentgenological changes associated with primary hyperparathyroidism are discussed and their differential diagnostic significance is emphasised. The radially located subperiostal absorptions are the first roentgenological changes seen in PHPT and represent signs which make it highly probably that this disease is present.